Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

Yes, Peggy, that person will go to heaven, in my opinion. An example of this is the thief on the cross who accepted Christ as his Savior but did not have the chance to be baptized. Yet he went to heaven (Luke 23).

Luke 23:39-43
New American Standard Bible
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other responded, and rebuking him, said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our crimes; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

This penitent thief (as well as the other thier) died that day (John 19:31-33, “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs.”)

How do I know that, that both thieves died that day? Crucifixion was a very sadistic and brutal means of punishment. With the hands and feet nailed in an outstretched position on the cross, it became difficult to breathe. One would have to push himself to a very upright position to take in a deep breath. Each breath depended on pushing against the nails in their feet, causing great pain. It would take several days for someone to die from crucifixion. They would eventually die from exposure while they slowly bled from their wounds. By breaking the legs of the two thieves, they would no longer be able to push themselves into an upright position, and they would quickly suffocate. (ANSWERS FROM THE BOOK)

So this thief died but went to be with Jesus in Paradise that day!

August 17 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Baptism is a public statement of a believer's faith in Christ, and represents the believer's identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and it should not be refused by a believer if the opportunity presents itself. However, requiring anything other than faith for salvation makes being saved a works-based process (in contradiction of Ephesians 2:8-9), and also says that Christ's atoning death is not sufficient to save.

Further, Paul did not include baptism in his detailed outline of the gospel message in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, and, in fact, gave thanks in other passages that he had NOT baptized more believers than he had, as well as stating that he had been called to preach rather than to baptize (1 Corinthians 1:14-17). Those passages would be totally incompatible with baptism being indispensable for salvation.

August 17 2021 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report